Laziz Kitchen
Address: 152 East 200 South (Downtown)
912 South Jefferson Street (on 9th)
Telephone: 385-267-1161
Website: lazizkitchen.com
District: Downtown
Central 9th
"This restaurant is our love letter to the community," Jennifer Hannon said, seated at a table in the lounge at the back of Laziz Kitchen. "We want people to feel safe, welcome, and fed with care."
Laziz, translated from Arabic to mean "tasty" or "delicious," began as a dream rooted in love. In 2012, Moudi Sbeity and Derek Kitchen, a former Utah state senator, started selling traditional Lebanese spreads at farmers markets in Salt Lake City. Their mission was twofold: share Moudi's rich culinary heritage and create a space that celebrated inclusivity. As the first gay couple to challenge Utah's same-sex marriage ban, their case became national news.
When they opened the original Laziz Kitchen on 9th South, it quickly became a cultural hub. The food was fresh, bold, and beautiful. Guy Fieri took notice, featuring them on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. But more importantly, the restaurant stood for something: love, community, and courage.
In 2021, with their lives calling them in different directions - Derek and Moudi made a difficult decision. Unless someone stepped in, Laziz would close its doors. Jennifer's father, John, a business partner in Laziz Foods, got the call. Within two weeks, Jennifer, her husband Blake, her father, and Chef Wallys Villar rallied to learn everything they could and shortly thereafter, Moudi stepped away from Laziz in entirety and Derek remains involved from afar.
Jennifer's family had originally operated two locations of Curry Up Now, a restaurant franchise they brought to Utah. Wallys Villar first connected with them while working there, and when the franchise model proved too limiting - lacking creative control over branding, menu, and operations - they made the decision to rebrand. Rather than walk away from their leases in downtown and Midvale, they transformed both locations into a second and third Laziz Kitchen. The Midvale location eventually closed, allowing them to focus their energy on Laziz’s two vibrant, community-rooted restaurants in downtown Salt Lake City.
Raised in Sandy, Utah, Jennifer never intended to run a restaurant. She surprised her parents in high school by secretly applying to a performing arts school in St. George. “It was one of the best decisions I ever made,” she said, explaining how she moved south at age sixteen, living with an elderly couple while completing her junior and senior years. She made lifelong friends during that time, and her independent spirit never faded.
After high school, Jennifer moved to California, earned a degree in women’s studies from Loyola Marymount, and eventually returned to Utah to pursue a master’s in social work. She spent a decade working with women and LGBTQIA+ individuals in trauma and addiction recovery. Jennifer met her husband, Blake, while working at the residential treatment center. He was the alumni director, and she was the clinical director. “We became dear friends,” she recalled, “and I introduced him to my brother, thinking they would hit it off," and smiling, Jennifer added, "And then Blake and I ended up together.” The two married in 2020.
When she, Blake, and her father took over Laziz Kitchen at the end of 2021, she was still deeply involved in her clinical work and had just given birth to their daughter. It was only after some time away from her previous profession that she realized her heart was pulling her in a different direction. Though she had never worked in the restaurant industry, she believed in the mission of Laziz, in the power of food to create community, and in the importance of "holding space for others." With her husband stepping back from operations and her father taking on a more hands-off role, Jennifer made the leap into full-time leadership, bringing with her the compassion, empathy, and dedication that had defined her earlier career.
“I just wanted to carry the torch,” Jennifer said. “Derek and Moudi built something incredibly meaningful - not just a restaurant, but a place that stood for love, identity, and community. I felt a deep responsibility to honor that legacy while shaping the next chapter.”
There are two Laziz Kitchen locations: the original on 9th South, and the second in downtown, which opened in fall of 2022. The newer space includes a small back-room lounge – Back Door, with a neon sign with the words Habibi in Derek’s handwriting mounted on the wall. Carrying the beautiful work with the meaning "my love" in Arabic - where guests gather over cocktails, local art hangs on the walls, and the sense of community is palpable while staying connected to the history of Laziz. The same food and drinks are served in both locations, and the restaurants are operated with the same values that began it all.
Executive Chef and Director of Operations Wallys, who hails from Puerto Rico, has been with the family for years. His approach to food and leadership is as collaborative as it is creative. "We call it modern Lebanese," he explained. "We respect tradition, but we also want to explore flavor and bring our own stories to the plate." His kitchen staff is made up of people from around the world, and everyone is invited to contribute ideas. "This isn’t a top-down kitchen," he said. "We’re a team. We want people to feel safe and proud of what they are serving."
The menu has evolved in recent years because of Wallys’ vision. While longtime favorites remain - hummus, labneh, sumac fries, and chicken shish tawook - the newer dinner offerings are more elevated. Guests can now order braised lamb shank, fresh halibut, or a chicken breast, each dish meticulously plated and vibrant with color. There is a steak with Calabrian pepper sauce, labneh mashed potatoes, and consistent rotating specials built through staff input and collaboration. Everything is fresh, colorful, and Instagram-worthy. But more importantly, it tastes extraordinary. "We wanted to be more of a dinner destination," Wallys said. "We take pride in what we do. It’s food with purpose."
That purpose is shared across the team. Emma, the general manager, has worked with Wallys since they were both at Café Rio. Her brother manages the 9th South location, and even their youngest sister, works at Laziz too. Many staff members have been with Laziz for years, including the mother-daughter-granddaughter trio who first started making the dips with Derek and Moudi at the farmers market more than a decade ago. A true family affair.
While Jennifer honors the legacy of Derek and Moudi, she is steering the restaurant into its next chapter. Her leadership is quiet but powerful, rooted in her training, her values, and her heart. "Feeding people is our love language," she said. "Our goal is simple: create a place where everyone feels seen, nourished, and at home."
